Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

102 ALOACEAE
Aloe yavellana
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Fig. 55. Aloe
yavellana, from
Yabello, Sidamo
floristic region.
in northern tip of the Elimi triangle, an area bordering SE
Sudan in Kefa floristic region. The main flowering period
is unknown.
41. Aloe yavellana Reynolds
The specific epithet ‘yavellana’, refers to the place of
growth, Yavello (Yabello) in Sidamo floristic region from
where the type collection was made by Reynolds. The
species was described in 1954.
The species belongs to a group of cau lescent aloes
(numbers 31–41) mainly characterised by erect, ascending
or spraw ling stems. A. yavellana is distinguished from
the related species occurring in southern and eastern
Ethiopia by the cylindrical­trigonous perianth, 20–22
mm long, with the outer segments free for 8–10 mm, the
pedicels, 8–10 mm long pedicels and the triangular­ovate
bracts, 3–6 × 1–2 mm.
Succulent shrub, stems erect to 1 m high or sprawling, up to 3 m
long, 3–4 cm diameter. Leaves ± spaced along stem, 30–40 × 5–7
cm, recurving towards tip, slightly canaliculate, brown above, pale
below and when growing in shade. Marginal spines (10–)14–17 per
10 cm, ca. 3 mm high, with reddish tips. Inflorescence with 8–10
racemes. Racemes capitate to cylindrical, 4–10 cm long, dense, 6–10
flowers per cm. Bracts triangular-ovate, 3–6 × 1–2 mm, scarious.
Pedicels 8–10(12–in fruit) cm long. Perianth cylindrical­trigonous,
20–22 mm long, 4–6 mm wide pressed, dull­scarlet to orange; outer
segments free for 8–10 mm.
The species grows in rocky slopes in clearings in Juniperus
forest, and also in more disturbed areas near roads